Effectiveness of the Eko Digital Stethoscope in Capturing Infant Electrocardiograms
Virginia Commonwealth University
Summary
When a newborn is diagnosed with tachyarrhythmia, they are generally started on medical therapies, most commonly a beta-blocker, while being observed in an inpatient setting. In most academic institutions, current practice is to provide parental teaching on use of a stethoscope to auscultate their child when there is suspicion for distress, in addition to requiring cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) classes. Fortunately, newer technologies have emerged that allow for capture of cardiac rhythm that may provide a buffer between the infant and the emergency room.
Description
Tachyarrhythmias which would prompt an emergent call to the pediatric cardiologist following the child, along with simultaneous transportation towards the nearest, preferably pediatric, emergency room. In reality, parental caregivers may be blinded by their personal anxiety in caring for their child with a tachyarrhythmia, and their interpretation or ability to count their child's heart beats may not be accurate. This in turn, can result in unnecessary calls and visits to the emergency room which increase their utilization in addition to piling onto the already astounding cost of healthcare in…
Eligibility
- Age range
- Up to 1 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Age \<1 year * No previous diagnosis of arrhythmia * Parent/caregiver can provide informed consent * Parent/caregiver can speak and understand simple English Exclusion Criteria: * Age ≥ 1 year * Patient has a pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) * Parent/caregiver is unwilling or unable to provide informed consent * Parent/caregiver is unable to speak and understand English
Interventions
- DeviceEko Duo electronic stethoscope
A digital stethoscope with 1-lead electrocardiogram (ECG), the DUO, which pairs with a mobile application that allows the clinician to further engage with the device during and after a clinical visit. The application enables the clinician to visualize the sounds and electrical signals coming from the device in real time.
- DeviceCORE 500 electronic stethoscope
The CORE 500 has 3 electrodes that produce a 3 lead ECG, which can be viewed through the Eko app. The CORE 500 also has a user interface screen which provides a number of functions including confirming when all three electrodes have good skin contact, showing a single lead ECG wave, providing heart rate, allowing the user to switch between audio modes, allowing the user to take recordings, and providing AI analysis results for recordings.
Location
- Virginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmond, Virginia